The last few weeks I’ve been starting new projects. I haven’t actually been doing a lot of sewing, but quite a bit of pulling fabric and cutting fabric out. Then I zoom on to the next project…I’m not sure how many things I currently have going — well actually none of them are “going,” just ready to go. After working today, I walked back into my studio, enthused about making a table mat for my son Michal and his wife Rebecca. The one they have now is pitiful, the quilting on it is soo sad, and it’s at least 6 or 7 years old…

So I started pulling some fabric for it and looking for a set of fabrics I’m already working with. I opened several totes before I found the one I was looking for. In the midst of this, I stopped and took a look around. So here it is for your viewing pleasure, a tour of my studio, as is (warning: these images may disturb some viewers):

My stash, or most of it

From my spinning & weaving days. Her outfit is made from a horoscope warp — each thread represents a color assigned for every horoscope degree – 360 threads

Taken from in front of the stash shelving, looking across my cutting table to the design wall. See the lamb? Made from an antique quilt, it’s so cute!

The fabrics overlapping each other are for the table mat. The totes are evidence of my frenzied search

My sewing station, with a couple projects laying beside it (moved so I could clear the cutting area). There’s a pile of Dresden Plate blocks on the right…I don’t like their background now.

A sorted pile of squares…

On the design wall: on the left, 4 Winding Way blocks; a Dresden Plate modern style quilt project; Halie’s doll quilt blocks; serpentine Dresden color run; Mike & Rebecca’s replacement Double Wedding Ring blocks (remember their original quilt top is being quilted by the Pioneer Quilters, so I needed to make them another.)

My ironing station, with a Round Robin quilt that Debby and I worked on together. Those are Dresden Plate blades on the board.

Debby made this quilt as a commemoration of a visit to our Elkton home, called “Memories of Oregon.”

These tubs and kids’ carseats do NOT belong in my studio! Aargh!

A clent’s quilt in progress

I drew ten designs for the Grandmother’s Flower Garden; the back side shows the quilting

These shelving units and cupboard have all my longarm tools, reference books, thread, and quilts stored in them. The quilt above the shelf is done by Sheila Steers, purchased at the Small Quilt Auction for EVQ, 2010

And assorted treasure

Family photos on the front of the storage cupboard. No, you can’t look inside!!

Matt about 4, I think; I’m in my 30’s in our kitchen/dining room at the ranch. What you see is all there was to that kitchen. Notice the drawer being used as a cutting board.

Michal at 17…Rebecca had painted his face for Halloween…

A display plaque from Pioneer Quilters as a thank you for chairing our quilt show

This is our “hospital” quilt. Whenever a family member is in the hospital, this quilt goes with them. Apparently we are all healthy right now!

Quilt from a photoshopped picture taken at Black Sheep Gathering 2002(?) and a cute plaque Debby gave me

Our antique Cuckoo clock, and a quilt by Sandie Massett purchased at the Small Quilt Auction for EVQ 2010

Fat quarters from the Fat Quarter Queen (every year at PIQF Debby buys me a dozen new fat quarters) and Sporty Barbie wearing a 1st Place medal I won in a 10k race years ago…a table topper made by Ann Pfrender and a cow with yoyo flowers…

This is where the magic is supposed to happen. I supposed even magicians have times when all they do is just think about things…

Back to the fabrics for the table mat for Mike & Rebecca

So now I’m ready to cut those fabrics into pieces. I hope I will be able to sew a few seams, perhaps even complete a project?

I can’t fully express my feelings this evening. Today we enjoyed a presentation by Molly Schiessl, owner of Fourth Corner Fine Quilt Gallery in Ashland, Oregon. Molly has recently relocated to Eugene, and agreed to share some of her antique quilt collection at our quilt show. The presentation was amazing!

She began by asking members of the audience what type of documentation they included on their quilts: the date, a dedication, signature of the quiltmaker, and even the age of the quiltmaker are all very useful information to attach to the quilt. Most historical quilts do not have that information; they are undated and unsigned. Molly’s collection dates from the 1840’s to the 1940’s. Here are a few photos of quilts she shared with us:

Crib quilt, probably from a kit

Closeup, isn’t it nice?

Here’s another one:

I love this circus theme!

And look what she also had!

So that tells you a lot about how common this kit must have been!!

Then she showed this sensational quilt, Elizabeth Norcross’ 1847 New Jersey Quaker Friendship Quilt. This quilt has inscriptions throughout the blocks, ink drawings, wonderful detail!

But before I finish this post, let me just show you this marvelous example of Broderie Perse

1819 Broderie Perse Quilt

Here’s a nice closeup. The workmanship is wonderful!

Seeing these marvelous quilts made my heart sing! Quilting transcends the generations, and I can imagine the quilters who lived long ago as well as the quilters yet to be. We were so fortunate to have Molly Schiessl share her wonderful quilts with us!

Remember the Jellyroll Quilt? Within the first hour we had a bid of $175 for it. The prospective buyer very graciously suggested we continue to display the quilt and accept further bids on it throughout the show. So we have a silent auction set up for that quilt! If you would like to bid on the quilt, simply speak with the Lane County Historical Museum staff to place a bid. Yes, we’re very excited!!

AND the Boutique items are just as wonderful this year as in past years:

Aren’t these fabric bowls beautiful?

We also have wonderful sets of coasters, made using the same technique, in many colors!

Show your loyalty with a pincushion!

“For the Love of Yo-Yo’s”

We still have some wonderful bags for you to choose from. Here is one made of selvedges:

Selvedge edge zippered bag

You can’t have too many pincushions…

Even the most expensive boutique items (in the $20 range) are priced at less than the supplies to make them. The Pioneer Quilters group works throughout the year to create these delightful and useful items for our sewing pleasure. 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Museum!

The Pioneer Quilters Unbroken Thread Quilt Show, “Our Quilting Family,” opened to an enthusiastic crowd of quilt lovers this past Tuesday, April 23, 2013! Our featured quilters, Joyce Garrett and Jamie Wagle, were busy throughout the day, sharing their wonderful exhibit with attendees.

The Featured Quilters display area. Jamie’s Celtic Applique quilt is shown on the right and Joyce’s “Leaves” hanging on the left.

These sisters have done many projects together throughout the years, and in many cases have their quilts displayed side by side, as the Twisted Ribbon Bargello quilts are.

Twisted Ribbon Bargello. Jamie’s is on the right

Signature Quilts. Which one is Joyce’s?

Throughout the day their display area has been very busy as show attendees stop to view their work and discuss it with them.

We enjoyed a thrilling presentation by Eugene Modern Quilt Guild President Jessica Beaudet Wednesday afternoon, “The Modern Quilt Movement & Trunk Show.” And what a trunk show she shared with us!

Jessica is an accomplished and passionate speaker; I am so very glad I was able to hear her presentation:

Jessica Beaudet

She very generously shared her knowledge of the Modern Quilt Movement, reminding the audience that we all speak the same quilting language, no matter what the form of our communication is: in person, by telephone, or by internet connection. She uses the internet as a tool to enhance and share her quilting knowledge with quilters worldwide.

Jeanne Wong introducing Jessica

And here are some of the quilts! (Please excuse the head views — every seat was taken today!)

This “Improvised Chair” quilt is shown sideways to display the hour that belongs just to Jessica

Isn’t this compelling?

Note the setting of the bolder blocks — just a slightly different take

A traditional block, a red & green quilt, but with a definite color edge!

We thank Jessica profusely, for her presentation at the show today! Our community is so fortunate to have such a talented and generous quilter in our midst!

And lastly, exhibited in our show, is a marvelous quilt by Jenny Bonynge (quilted by Cynthia Brunz) in the modern aesthetic.

The Pioneer Quilters show, “Our Quilting Family,” begins Tuesday morning, April 23, at the Lane County Historical Museum, Eugene, Oregon! Today the show was hung, a quilt set up for us to work on during the show, and the Pioneer Quilters Boutique was set up! We are ready!

This show is the largest fundraiser of each year for the Museum. Our dedicated group works all year to provide Boutique items to sell during the show, and 100% of all those proceeds go to the Museum. In addition, the Museum has purchased a few hard-to-find quilting books you might be interested in:

This one will go in my collection, by Gwen Marston

Barbara Brackman’s books belong in all our libraries. She is the authority on quilt blocks

Another Brackman I need to own…

This one is delightful!

A DVD! The staff was thinking of quilt visitors when they stocked up…

This is a great DVD, what a talent!

This whole shelf is filled with quilting goodies. They even have a sewing machine pencil sharpener!

Here are just a few photos from setup:

Our quilt take-in crew, ready for some action.

Our featured quilters Joyce Garrett and Jamie Wagle. Barbara Ganzel is sitting in the middle.

I will have some photos of Boutique items for you tomorrow, but for now I’ll show you a quilt that John sewed and I quilted. This is his first Jellyroll quilt, all in soft pastel batiks. He likes to use Minky backing, because it is so soft and cuddly. I added some fancy quilting, and we are offering it for sale at the quilt show. All proceeds will go to the Museum!

It measures 55×63, just the right size for a lap quilt

Here’s a closeup of the center quilting from the front

I really love quilting…I got a little carried away with this one…

A bit of the back

The photos don’t show the color accurately. The Minky back is a nice lavender.

So here’s the deal. The materials and quilting for this quilt would come to over $250. I donated my quilting time, and the materials, and John donated the sewing time. We’re offering this work of art (that you can snuggle with) for $175. And, yes, you can buy it by calling me. But I’ll be at the quilt show all week, so if you really want t, come to the show! Soon!

The crew loading the quilt for our group to work on during the show

These are the raffle blocks we are offering this year. The blocks were made using the original 1929 Nancy Page patterns, printed in the Portland Oregonian. There was a contest and monetary prize for the best quilt. We have two quilts hanging beside the blocks that were made during that contest!Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5, and the winner will also receive some coordinating fabric yadage!

So this all starts tomorrow morning at 10! Admission is $5 per person. You can buy a weekly pass for $10 and come several times to enjoy the speaker presentations and demonstrations. See you there!